Signaling device



Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,321

G.- A. WHITE ET AL SIGNALING DEVICE Filed June 1:5, 192'! 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .o/n/uw/lnny '9 .BY W17 Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,691,321 PATENT *oFFICE.

GEORGE A. WHITE AND WILLIAM SPARKS, OF JACKSON. MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO THE SPARKS-WITHINGTON COMPANY, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

Application filed Iune'm, 1927, Serial No. 198,422.

This invention relates to certain new and The main object .of the invention is the production of a novel signaling device partlcularly designed for use on automobiles and capable of producing a comparatively loud signal that will carry 1on distances, and is of a musical tone, or a combination of muslcal tones, preferably of a harmonious character, and the specific features of the inventlon reside in the particular assemblage and mount ing means of a portion of the structure whereby the signaling device is rigidly supported in position with its ornamental sound-emitting portion positioned external of the vehicle body, while the driving means and supporting bracket is, for'instance, under the hood of an automobile where it is not ordinarily exposed to view. a Other objects and advantages relate to the details of the structure and the form and relation of the parts thereof, all as will more fully appear fromthe following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the signaling device of this invention, omittin the wall of the Vehicle in connection with which the device is assembled.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1, with the wall of the vehicle included.

Figure 3 is a plan view similar to Figure 1, but showing portion of the structure in section.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4, Figure 1, including the wall of the vehicle body.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-.5, Figure 2. The structure herein illustrated comprises a rotary electric motor 1- disposed upon 40 the interior of the wall -92 of avehicle body, while the horn body -91- and projectors -60 are disposed exterior of the wall -92- of the vehicle body to constitute an exposed ornamental structure.

The armature shaft 4 of the motor is journaled in an end wall -2- preferably of substantially circular form, and provided with a central boss '3 constituting an elongated journal for the armature shaft The rear end of the armature shaft 4- extends through an opening in the U-shaped case --7- and may be provided with an adjustable bearing -5 carried by the end or cross-wall 6 of the U-shaped motor-case -7-. The ends of the U-shaped motor case 7- are secured to flanges 8 respectively formed upon the end wall 2. The usual armature 10-, pole pieces and field coils 11 are provided;

The actual structure of the motor may vary widely, the essential being a means for producing rotary movement, and any form of electric motor may be utilized which is capable of driving a rotary compressor which constitutes a portion of the device, and for this purpose the end wall or head 2- is formed with a circular chamber or cylinder 14 in the side of the head opposite the electric motor 1-, and this cylindrical recess or chamber is eccentric with respect to the armature shaft -4 and to the rotor shaft 15 which is aligned with the armature shaft 4' and the rotor'shaft may be connected to the rotor 13 in an suitable manner, as for instance formed integrally with the rotor.

The rotor shaft extends into and is journaled in the boss -3 and may terminate a short distance from the end of the armature shaft 4 and is connected to the armature shaft for simultaneous rotary movement, while permitting relative longitudinal movement in any suitable manner, as by a key -50 extending into slots formed in the adjacent ends of the rotor shaft and the armature shaft for'locking the two against relative rotary movement, the key being positioned at an intermediate point along the bearing -3.

In effect the armature shaft iand the rotor shaft 3- constitute a sectional armature shaft and for the purpose of the claims of this application may be so considered.

The armature shaft being concentric with the end head 2 and the rotor 13-- being concentric with the armature shaft, the circular rotor is eccentrically positioned in the cylinder or chamber 14 by reason of the fact that the cylinder is formed eccentrically in the end head. 1

The end head 2' is further formed with an air storage chamber 17, in this instance arranged concentrically with the wall of the cylindrical chamber 14- and extending around the cylindrical chamber throughout slightly more than one-half of its circumference. This storage chamber is in communication with the pressure side of the rotary pump through a port 18 in the wall of the chamber 14-, and through this port air under pressure is projected by the rotor 13 from the chamber 14-- and for effecting this result the rotor 13- includes one or more, in this instance three-movable blades 19 slidably mounted in grooves or recesses in the rotor, and preferably spaced equal distances apart and adapted to be thrown out by centrifugal force as the rotor 12 is driven by the armature shaft.

The compressor chamber 14 is formed with an air inlet -20 at the suction side of the compressor, and which air inlet penetrates the bottom wall of the compressor chamber, and leads into the casing -5l which encloses the electric motor 1. This casing is usually imperforate, and "for the purpose of admitting air to its interior, it is formed with a struck-up portion 5.2 interrupting the continuity of the casing wall, and forming a passageway 53 leading to a passageway 54lthrough the flange 55 on the end head 2, whereby air may be freely supplied to the inlet 20 of the compressor and without the production of vacuum within the casing 51.

Mounted upon the outer end of the head 2- and covering the compressor chamber -1land the storage chamber l7 is an end cap 80 secured to the head -2 in any suitable manner, as by screws 8l. This end cap is formed with a boss 82 provided with a conduit 95 leading to the storage chamber -17 and the outer end of the conduit 95 is interiorly threaded for the reception of the threaded end of a swivel connection 100, the opposite enlar ed conical end of which is secured to an in alignment with a threaded nipple 89- by means of cap-nut 101. The nipple 89 has mounted thereon a threaded nut 102 inside the wall 92 and the nut is spaced from the wall 92- by one arm 103 of a supporting bracket 104. and the nipple 89 extends through the arm l03-- of the bracket and through an opening in the wall 92- and is threaded into an opening in the base of the horn body Preferably, the horn body 91 may be spaced from wall 92 by washer 105. When this association of the elements has been made, the nut 102 may be tightened against the arm 103 of bracket 104l to rigidly secure the parts in position and connect the same rigidly to the wall 9E2.

The other arm 106 of bracket 10l is connected to the end head 2 by means of bolts -107 two of which are shown extending through the arm 106- and threaded into recesses in the end head -2 to constitute a substantial support for the motor and compressor.

The structure here illustrated is designed to include twosound producing structures,

and except for the length of the projectors these sound producing devices are of similar form, shape and structure, and a description of one constitutes a description of both. The projectors -60- difl'er in this illustration in that one of them is somewhat longer than the other for the purpose of producing different notes, which by suitable adjustment of the devices can be made harmonious in character.

In each case the projector 60 has its rear end threaded. into the front end of one of the bosses 59 on the horn body and a tube 6lis threaded into the boss so as to substantially contact with the rear end of the projector -(30, and this tube projects rearwardly from the boss 59.

Each boss -5Q has a circumferentially enlarged intermediate portion forming an annular chamber 62- surrounding the tube (i1 and in communication with the respective conduits 58-. The rear end of each boss is internally enlarged with respect to the front end and is threaded for the reception of an externally threaded tubular boss 63 formed concentrically at the base of a cup-shaped member 64 which may be locked in any desired position with respect to boss 59 by means of lock-nut 65.

The internal diameter of the boss 63 is somewhat greater than the external diameter of the tube 61- so as to form an annular passageway around the tube leading from chamber 62- to the interior of the cupshapc member 64. The external wall of the cup-shape member 64@ is externally threaded for cooperative engagement with the interiorly threaded flange upon a cupshape cap -,G6, and this cap 66- is formed with a radial shoulder -67- between which and the end of the cup-shape member 64 a thin metallic diaphragm -68 has its edge confined.

The size and arrangement of the parts is such that when the diaphragm is positioned, as described, it extends across and normally closes the rear open end of the tube 61 and preferably the rear open end of tube 61 is flared, as indicated at -69.

It is found that the air in the chamber between the diaphragm 68 and the cap 66 varies in pressure somewhat in accordance with the temperature to which the device is subjected, thereby varying the pressure upon the diaphragm 68 which in turn eliects the operation of the signaling device, and in order to maintain the device uniform in operation, the cap -66 is provided with one or more openings -70 leading to the chamber between the diaphragm and the cap to permit the entrance of air to or the exit of air from said chamber to maintain a. normal pressure, irrespective of temperature changes.

These openings may, if desired, be covered on the inside by plate -71-and on the outside by disk 72' for appearance sake so long as sufficient space is provided, as for instance by small grooves or passageways 73 for the escape or entrance of air.

In operation, when the armature shaft is rotated, air entering through inlet '-20 is compressed and ejected through outlet 18- into storage chau'iber 17, and thence passes thru the hollow horn body -9l to the respective chambers -62 and thence through annular passageways 75 to the interior of the cup-shape member 64 into contact with the front side of diaphragm (i8, whereby diaphragm (i8 is caused to move slightly rearwardly to permit the escape of the air through the tube 61.

The resiliency ot' the diaphragl'n and the variation in pressure, due to the escape of air, returns the diaphragm to the position where it'closes or substantially closes the inlet to tube 61 and the operation is then repeated, thereby causing a rapid vibration of the diaphragm over the mouth of the tube 62, producing and causing the projectors to emit a musical tone. The spacing and supporting member 76 may be interposed between the end of the shorter pro jector and an intermediate portion of the latter, and this spacing and supporting member may be formed with a groove for receiving the edge of the shorter projector and with an inclined surface conforming to the external wall of the longitudinal projector.

By adjusting the cup-shape member 64 in the boss 59 a proper positioning of the diaphragm -68- can be efiected to produce the desired note, and the member 64. may then be locked in plaby lock nut From the above it will be apparent that the ornamental sound-emitting portion of the structure including the projectors 60 and the diaphragm chambers and the horn body, are secured to a wall of the vehicle by a single point connection, and are positioned exterior of the vehicle body, while the motor and pump are positioned within thevehicle body,

and the entire structure including the horn body --91 and the bracket 104 carrying the motor and pump, rigidly secured in position with respect to the vehicle body by adjusting the nut 102 and altho we have shown and described a specific structure as constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention, we do not desire to restrict ourselves to the details of form, construction or arrangement of the parts, except as the same may be specifically set forth in the claims hereto appended.

-We claim:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a vehicle body of a combined motor and pump disposed within the the combination with a vehicle body of a combined motor and pump disposed within the vehicle body, a horn body, diaphragm chamher and projector disposed exterior of the vehicle body, a tubular member connected to the pump and-to the horn body and extending thru the vehicle body, and a bracket connected to the combined motor and pump and secured to the vehicle body and the tubular member for supporting the structure.

In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a vehicle body of a combined motor and pump disposed within the vehicle body, a horn body, diaphragm chamber and projector disposed exterior of the vehicle body, a tubular member connected to the pump and to the horn body and extending thru the vehicle body, and a bracket connected to the combined motor and pump, and having an arm resting against the interior of the wall of the vehicle body and having an opening through which the tubular member extends.

4:. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a vehicle body of a combined motor and pump disposed within'the vehicle body, a horn body, diaphragm chamber and projector disposed exterior of the vehicle body, a tubular member connected to the pump and to the horn body, and extending through the vehicle body, a bracket connected to the combined motor and pump and having an arm restin against the interior of the wall of the vehic e body and having an opening through which the tubular member extends, and a nut mounted on the tubular member within the vehicle body and adjustable to clamp the bracket and the horn body to the wall of the vehicle body upon opposite sides thereof.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a vehicle body of a combined motor and pump disposed within the vehicle body, a horn body, diaphragm chamber and projector disposed exterior of the vehicle body, a tubular member connected to the pump and to the horn body and extending through the vehicle body, a bracket connected to the combined motor and pump, and means for clamping the horn body and the bracket to the wall of the vehicle body.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a vehicle body of a combined motor and pump disposed within the vehicle body, a horn body, diaphragm chamber and projector disposed exterior of the vehicle body, a tubular member connected to the pump and to the horn body and extending through the vehicle body, a bracket connected to the combined motor and pump and having an arm resting against the interior of the wall of the vehicle body and having an opening through which the tubular member extends, a nut mounted on the tubular member within the vehicle body and adjustable to clamp the bracket and the horn body to the wall of the vehicle body upon opposite sides thereof, and means mounted on the tubular member for clamping the bracket and the horn body to opposite sides of the Wall of the vehicle body.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a vehicle body of a combined motor and pump disposed within the vehicle body, a horn body, diaphragm chamber and projector disposed exterior of the vehicle body, a tubular member connected to the pump and to the horn body, and extending through the vehicle body, a bracket connected to the combined motor and pump and having an arm resting awainst the interior of the wall of the vehicle body and having an opening'through which the tubular member extends, a nut mounted on the tubular member within the vehicle body and adjustable to clamp the bracket and the horn body to the wall of the vehicle body upon opposite sides thereof, and unitary means for securing the horn body, the bracket and the Wall of the vehicle body together.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a vehicle body of a combined motor and pump disposed within the vehicle body, a horn body, diaphragm chamber and projector disposed exterior of the vehicle body, a tubular member connected to the pump and to the horn body, and extending through the vehicle body, a bracket connected to the combined motor and pump and having an arm resting against the interior of the Wall of the vehicle body and having an opening through which the tubular member extends, a nut mounted on the tubular member Within the vehicle body and adjustable to clamp the bracket and the horn body to the wall of the vehicle body upon opposite sides thereof, and means for securing the bracket to the vehicle body on the inside thereof and for securing the horn body to the wall of the vehicle body. on the outside of the latter.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 27th day of May, 1927.

GEORGE A. WHITE. WILLIAM SPARKS. 

